‏Zach Parise has agreed to terms with the Minnesota Wild

He's a guy who wasn't in the NHL until 27. He put up good offensive numbers with the Isles, but I compare that to a someone who averages a lot of points for the Bobcats. Even on a bad team, someone has to put up goals and assists. It just happened to be Parenteau this time around.

Rafalski didn't get to the NHL until he was 26. I don't think its necessarily fair to judge someone based on that. He was playing with decent players w/ the Islanders and did his job well. 120 points in two years is nothing to scoff at no matter who you're playing with/for.

Rafalski didn't get to the NHL until he was 26. I don't think its necessarily fair to judge someone based on that. He was playing with decent players w/ the Islanders and did his job well. 120 points in two years is nothing to scoff at no matter who you're playing with/for.

Of course there's always an exception. Rafalski though was playing in Europe and just slipped through the cracks. He also had much more on his resume before his big payday. Parenteau was bouncing around the AHL for a while and had a shot with the Rangers.

You're right though, his numbers aren't anything to sneeze at. I just don't see how he accomplishes much for us, especially when we can't start throwing money around.

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I collect spores, molds and fungus.Hello fellow American. This you should vote me. I leave power. Good. Thank you, thank you. If you vote me, I'm hot. What? Taxes, they'll be lower... son. The Democratic vote is the right thing to do Philadelphia, so do.How do you spot risk? How do you avoid risk? And what makes it so risky?

I'm so sick of any talk about loyalty. There is next to no loyalty in sports. There is rarely loyalty from GMs to players, players to GM. Players sign a long-term deal and ask to be traded the soon things get bad. Players sign a long-term deal without a NTC and get dealt immediately months after buying a new home and getting settled, or promises made to them by the GM and owners are not kept. And there is certainly no loyalty between players and fans. Fans jump on players the second their production is down, no matter what they have accomplished, not even thinking about what's going on be it a messy divorce, a family member being sick, any other personal thing, or playing through an injury.

No matter where Zach goes, he'll be considered a traitor. If he takes the cash in Minny, he'll be the new Holik, but how many people can pass on perhaps 15-20+ million more, a chance to play in your home state and be considered a local hero for a passionate fanbase that has deserved so much more than they have gotten. If he goes to Pittsburgh, he'll be a loser that doesn't want to write in his own history and instead be a third banana, even though it's a great opportunity and a chance to play on a line with the best player in the game. But if he stays in NJ, he'll be cheered for a while until the first time his level of play dips, and people will be ripping the contract and saying what a poor decision it was to pay top dollar for an overrated NHLer. How quickly did fans get on Kovalchuk, be it with boos in the arena or message board rants?. Didn't one fan throw his jersey on the ice? This isn't a knock on Devils fans specifically, just the way it is with all fans. The first extended slump, it's happening in the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately sports world. It's really a lose-lose.

In the end, Zach Parise doesn't owe much to this organization or fanbase. Yes they drafted him but if they didn't, it be the next team picking or the next after that. Since day 1 he's been a consummate professional, a class act and given it his all every single team he got on the ice. He's now a free agent and has the opportunity to chose any team he desires. That's his right he's been given. He's going to make the best decision for himself. Regardless what many people here think, he isn't going to be brainwashed by his agents or his father. He'll seek guidance, but he can figure things out himself. He knows what NJ has to offer be it the good or bad. But put yourself in his position being wooed like possibly no free agent in NHL history. There are no right or wrong choices from the teams involved. This is the rest of his career we are talking about, so he should take as long as he needs.

Edited by devilsrule33, 02 July 2012 - 06:03 PM.

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"The Stanley Cup has fallen from the Stars. The new millennium has its first Stanley Cup Champion, and it's the New Jersey Devils." Mike Miller calling the Devils winning the Stanley Cup.

"It goes to the captain and then there are handoffs during a skate around the ice" Mike Emrick as Scott Stevens is being presented the Stanley Cup.

You're right though, his numbers aren't anything to sneeze at. I just don't see how he accomplishes much for us, especially when we can't start throwing money around.

He accomplishes a lot more if we got him when Zach walked. He's averaging 60 points per season with an Islanders team that was not much outside of him, Tavares and Moulson, and now Okposo. Put him with Kovy, Zajac, and/or Henrique/Elias and I think we'd see similar success. Out of all the options available on the market, he was one of the better ones. I do think 4M is a bit high for him, but thats the going market price. If we weren't spending 7-8 on Zach, Id have been fine with 3-4 for PA.

Besides the point now and I understand the reasoning, but I think it would've been a risk worth exploring.

With luck, we'll just keep Zach and wont have to think of a replacement.

Parise's agent said there still may be a decision tonight. I doubt that happens though. I don't expect ZP to know what he wants after 2 or 3 hours after saying he doesn't know. This should be over by tomorrow midday hopefully.

Parise's agent said there still may be a decision tonight. I doubt that happens though. I don't expect ZP to know what he wants after 2 or 3 hours after saying he doesn't know. This should be over by tomorrow midday hopefully.

I think its possible at least. His fiancee may be one of the types that has her mind set on things and pushes him lol. You're probably right though, I'm guessing he's going to sleep on it another night.

I think its possible at least. His fiancee may be one of the types that has her mind set on things and pushes him lol. You're probably right though, I'm guessing he's going to sleep on it another night.

I don't want to read into it too much but when everyone asks all these questions about who is in the mix ZP always declines to say who except that NJ is in it. I wonder if its good (thats were in it) or its bad because maybe he's just trying to show that he still keep NJ as an option but probably won't return. I don't know..haha

I read on HF that ZP's decision may of been delayed because of Chicagos involvement. Who knows.

_________________________________________________________________
“They’re the ones that makes it happen,” Lemaire said. “It’s not us. It’s not me. It’s not the other guy. It’s not the guy before. It’s not the guy after. It’s them. And they have to take care of business.”
-
"I guess I just miss my friend" (#28)

BTW, the most ridiculous anonymous false rumor monger tweet of the day goes to:

Hockeyy Insiderr ‏@HockeyyInsiderr

The other 1 is shocking, but it's the #Habs. #Canadiens arranged conference call between Parise and Gionta/Gomez/Pacioretty as per source.

Because no one can talk about how great it is to be adored by the Montreal fanbase than Scott Gomez.

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I collect spores, molds and fungus.Hello fellow American. This you should vote me. I leave power. Good. Thank you, thank you. If you vote me, I'm hot. What? Taxes, they'll be lower... son. The Democratic vote is the right thing to do Philadelphia, so do.How do you spot risk? How do you avoid risk? And what makes it so risky?

I don't want to read into it too much but when everyone asks all these questions about who is in the mix ZP always declines to say who except that NJ is in it. I wonder if its good (thats were in it) or its bad because maybe he's just trying to show that he still keep NJ as an option but probably won't return. I don't know..haha

I read on HF that ZP's decision may of been delayed because of Chicagos involvement. Who knows.

I truly believe that the longer it takes, the more likely he is staying. I obviously would like it to be over ASAP, but as long as he says we're in it, I believe that its a better chance of him sticking around.

The delay could also be because Lou is trying to get something sorted with ownership/NHL in terms of the offer. Theres probably 100s of different scenarios as to whats the reason for the delay or why. It could also be complete truth that he just wants to talk it over with family and wants to take another night. I dont see the harm in it.

I think it was telling yesterday when he suddenly canceled on all meetings he had scheduled with teams.

I'm so sick of any talk about loyalty. There is next to no loyalty in sports. There is rarely loyalty from GMs to players, players to GM. Players sign a long-term deal and ask to be traded the soon things get bad. Players sign a long-term deal without a NTC and get dealt immediately months after buying a new home and getting settled, or promises made to them by the GM and owners are not kept. And there is certainly no loyalty between players and fans. Fans jump on players the second their production is down, no matter what they have accomplished, not even thinking about what's going on be it a messy divorce, a family member being sick, any other personal thing, or playing through an injury.

While you're not wrong, the fact is the Devils ARE somewhat different than most organizations. Not that they don't ever trade players, but Marty takes millions less in the prime of his career to stay, Hedberg takes less to stay, Andy Greene took less to stay last year, Rafalski waited around for Nieds to make up his mind. Lou also shows loyalty, giving Marty/Moose two years, giving Pandolfo a ridiculous contract, bringing back guys time and again. It's not utopia but it's as close as you're going to get in sports, at least in terms of management-player relationships. How many team's FA's talk constantly about being in contact with their GM during the FA process? How many organizations have coaches and scouts as devoted to the team as we do?

As far as your point that Zach would be jeered during his first slump, I hope not. Especially if he winds up taking $20-30 million less to stay. I'm sure there'll be some yahoos in the stands that get on him but there's a major difference between him and Kovy. Zach's a homegrown, long-time Devil. He'd get the benefit of the doubt with slumps a lot more than a guy who was here half a minute and signed for twice the biggest contract any other Devil had ever received.

Edited by NJDevs4978, 02 July 2012 - 06:09 PM.

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"The Devils have high standards, that's the difference. We have a standard to live up to every year, and a couple of teams in our area don't have the standards we do." - Pat Burns

The New Jersey Devils win Stanley Cups everywhere:-NHL record for most road wins in the playoffs - 10-1 in '95 and 10-2 in '00-NHL record for most home wins in the playoffs - 12-1 in '03

Yeah I really wish there was a way to just outright ban that one and @NHLSourcesSay. The latter always "breaks" news after it's common knowledge without citing anyone, and then as the Parise announcement was coming, "confirmed" that Parise was now a Penguin.

Zach Parise is officially a ‪#Penguin‬, announcement in the next few minutes. ‪#CONFIRMED

And yet he has 15,000 followers. Unreal.

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Proud recipient of the 2011-'12 Sergei Brylin Award for Most Underrated Poster, the 2007-'08, 2008-'09, and 2009-'10 Lady Byng Award for Nicest Poster,

the 2008-'09 Bobby Holik Award for Funniest Poster, and the 2009-'10 NJDevs.com Stanley Cup for Best Overall Poster.
2009 NJDevs.com Survival League Football Champion

While you're not wrong, the fact is the Devils ARE somewhat different than most organizations. Not that they don't ever trade players, but Marty takes millions less in the prime of his career to stay, Hedberg takes less to stay, Andy Greene took less to stay last year, Rafalski waited around for Nieds to make up his mind. Lou also shows loyalty, giving Marty/Moose two years, giving Pandolfo a ridiculous contract, bringing back guys time and again. It's not utopia but it's as close as you're going to get in sports, at least in terms of management-player relationships. How many team's FA's talk constantly about being in contact with their GM during the FA process? How many organizations have coaches and scouts as devoted to the team as we do?

As far as your point that Zach would be jeered during his first slump, I hope not. Especially if he winds up taking $20-30 million less to stay. I'm sure there'll be some yahoos in the stands that get on him but there's a major difference between him and Kovy. Zach's a homegrown, long-time Devil. He'd get the benefit of the doubt with slumps a lot more than a guy who was here half a minute and signed for twice the biggest contract any other Devil had ever received.

This is all a very round about way of saying that the Devils are a great organization to play for. It's a well-run team. It's successful and the boss is very respected.

You could substitute "hockey team" with "law firm", "investment bank" or whatever, and the calculus is basically the same for the employee deciding whether to take a job elsewhere.

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I collect spores, molds and fungus.Hello fellow American. This you should vote me. I leave power. Good. Thank you, thank you. If you vote me, I'm hot. What? Taxes, they'll be lower... son. The Democratic vote is the right thing to do Philadelphia, so do.How do you spot risk? How do you avoid risk? And what makes it so risky?

While you're not wrong, the fact is the Devils ARE somewhat different than most organizations. Not that they don't ever trade players, but Marty takes millions less in the prime of his career to stay, Hedberg takes less to stay, Andy Greene took less to stay last year, Rafalski waited around for Nieds to make up his mind. Lou also shows loyalty, giving Marty/Moose two years, giving Pandolfo a ridiculous contract, bringing back guys time and again. It's not utopia but it's as close as you're going to get in sports, at least in terms of management-player relationships. How many team's FA's talk constantly about being in contact with their GM during the FA process? How many organizations have coaches and scouts as devoted to the team as we do?

As far as your point that Zach would be jeered during his first slump, I hope not. Especially if he winds up taking $20-30 million less to stay. I'm sure there'll be some yahoos in the stands that get on him but there's a major difference between him and Kovy. Zach's a homegrown, long-time Devil. He'd get the benefit of the doubt with slumps a lot more than a guy who was here half a minute and signed for twice the biggest contract any other Devil had ever received.

I didn't even bring up the players that wanted to stay when free agency started and weren't offered contracts all the while the fans are saying it's time to say goodbye. Gionta, Martin and Madden were three long-time Devils that didn't have any discussions with Lou and went their own way. Brylin got the shaft as well after 2008. It's a business.

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"The Stanley Cup has fallen from the Stars. The new millennium has its first Stanley Cup Champion, and it's the New Jersey Devils." Mike Miller calling the Devils winning the Stanley Cup.

"It goes to the captain and then there are handoffs during a skate around the ice" Mike Emrick as Scott Stevens is being presented the Stanley Cup.

I think all the "talk to my family" BS is just stall tactics and posturing and smoke and mirrors, both on Zach's camp's part and the part of the Devils org.

I have watched these negotiations closely over the years, most recently with the Jets and Nnamdi Asomugha and whatever you think is going to happen, is exactly what isn't going to happen...not to say he isn't coming back, because I have a decently good feeling about it, but it's all such a crapshoot and you never know what goes on behind closed doors with these guys, their agents, and GMs...

I think it's anyone's game and we will have to just wait it out and see. He owes us nothing and I know loyalty has no place in sports when BIG BUCKS are being shelled out, but perhaps he will stick around a little while longer...or we can only hope...